Self-cooling bed and couch cushion



. 28, 1937. J. H. REYNOLDS 2 ,55

SELF COOLING BED AND COUCH CUSHION Filed Sept. 15, 1 34 *Bil. my (MUM 9w.

Patented Dec. 28, 1937 a 7 2,103,553

UNITED STATES PATET OFFI'QE 2,103,553 SEW-COOLING BED AND COUCH CUSHION Joseph H. Reynolds, Cisco, Tex. Application September 15, 1934, Serial No. 744,103 1 Claim. (01. 155-182) This invention relates to new and useful imtrated four of these units enclosed in a fabric provements in self-cooling bed and couch cushcover or casing H, however the invention is not ions. to be limited to the number of units used.

One object of the invention is to provide a Each unit comprises a marginal rectangular cushion arranged to be placed over the mattress frame l2, preferably formed of stout, galvanized 5 of a bed, or padding of a couch, whereby a circuwire, having its ends suitably fastened or Welded lation of air may be provided between the body together. Around each end of the frame 52 is of the person resting upon the cushion and the bent a clip l3 which is made of a strip of metal mattress or padding. of the bed or couch, thus bent upon itself around the frame, as is shown in making for comfort and tending to eliminate body detail in Fig. 5, and its end portions brought to- 10 distresses resulting from various causes. gether to form a flange M. The end coils l5 of A further object of the invention is to provide coiled springs iii are engaged in eyes or apertures a cushion of the character described, including ll formed in each of the flanges, whereby the a plurality of absorbent wicks which may be springs are attached to the frame.' It will be saturated with water, thus making the cushion noted that each spring is considerably larger in 15 self-cooling. 7 Y diameter than the frame and the clip, and there- Still another object of the invention is to profore each spring will project above and below the vide a cushion adapted to be spread over a frame, thus sup-porting it above the surface on mattress or the like, and arranged to be conwhich the springs rest.

veniently folded when not in use; together with There are two sets of springs in each frame, 20 pockets for receiving the cooling and supporting each set having its outer ends connected to the units. flanges M. For supporting the inner ends of the A still further object of the invention is to springs a flexible metal strip or bridle I8 is provide a metallic cooling unit including a flexible fastened transversely across the mid-portion of frame adapted to yield to the weight of the body the frame 2. The ends of this strip are secured 25 of the person reclining thereon, and including in clips I9 similar to the clips l3 fastened around two sets of coiled springs connected at their inner the frame. This metal strip is provided along ends to a flexible supporting member, whereby the each edge with eyes 20 for receiving the end coils required resiliency and flexibility is given to the 2| of the coiled springs l6. It is important that 6 unit, without undue sagging of the coiled springs. the strip l8 be sufliciently flexible and resilient to A construction designed to carry out the invenpermit a free up-and-down movement of the ends tion will be hereinafter described, together with of the springs, so as to yield to the body and other features of the invention. thereby make for maximum comfort.

The invention will be more readily understood In each spring is inserted an elongated wick from a reading of the following specification and 22. It is preferable to make these wicks of soft 35 by reference to the accompanying drawing, in felt, and to allow sufficient space for the wicks which an example of the invention is shown, and to expand when saturated. Owing to the differwherein: ence in the size of the springs and the frame, Figure 1 is a view of a cushion constructed in these wicks may be inserted into the ends of the 40 accordance with the invention, partly in plan and springs after the unit has been assembled. By 40 p y in section, immersing the unit in water, the wicks will be Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken moistened and will become saturated to the full- 0 the n of est extent. It has been found that by shaking the Fi ure 3 s a d tail Showing a portion of one of unit and dropping it upon a hard surface, the he Supporting units, excess water is removed, and so long as the wicks 45 Fi r 4 is a transverse sectional view aken n are maintained horizontally, they will not exude theline of 3, moisture. This permits the unit to be inserted Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on in the cover ll without leaking water. the e f 3, and The cover II is rather unique in structure, be- Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on ing formed of a strip A of very coarse fabric. 50 the e 6-6 of Figure The end portions of this strip are turned upon Figure a View Showing he cushion e themselves to form pockets B and flaps C'. A n th d aw n t numeral i si a es a unit In is inserted in each pocket B, and the flap metallic supporting unit of which several are em- C i t cked in between the unit and the back ployed in making up the cushion. I havev illusstrip A. A separate piece of the same fabric D 55 is double-stitched at E across the center of the cover to form a hinge joint and to provide two pockets facing the pockets B and provided with flaps F used similarly to the pockets B when the units ID are placed in the pockets D.

The longitudinal edges of the pockets are secured with a suitable binding tape G, whereby the cover is given a proper finish. Suflicient space is left between the pockets B and D to provide a hinge so that the cover may be folded, as shown in Fig. 7. The cover is very simply constructed ings.

It has been found'that a cushion of this type not only cools and ventilates the body, but is very comfortable because the springs have a tendency to roll when the body is moved, and this greatly adds to the comfort. The use of this cushion tends to eliminate bed sores and other body discomforts resulting from confinement to the bed, and is particularly useful in hospitals.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a bed or couch cushion of the character described and comprising a pocketed casing of flexible sheet material, a cushioning and cooling unit and the units are held without the use of fasteninsertable interchangeably in the respective pockets of the casing, comprising, a rectangular body frame of relatively stout wire, said frame having at opposite ends a strip of sheet metal folded longitudinally therearound with its marginal portions brought together to provide a flange, said flange being provided with a series of apertures throughout the length thereof, a bridle strip of flexible sheet metal extending across said frame from side to side thereof and medially between said flanged end strips and having apertures at its opposite marginal portions and respectively alined with the apertures of said flanged end strips, helical springs secured at their outer ends in the apertures of said flanged end strips and at their inner ends in the apertures of said medial bridle strip, said springs being each of the same diameter and the diameter being relatively greater than the diameter of the constituent wire of the body frame and also greater than the thickness of the bridle strip, the axes of the frame wire, bridle strip and each of the springs being in substantially the same plane, and a wick element in each of said springs.

JOSEPH H. REYNOLDS. 

